Clothes-line reel.



No. 687,942. Patented Dec. 3, I90l. 0. N. SANDERS.

CLOTHES LINE REEL.

,Application filed Dec. 20, 1900.: (No Model.) 2 Sheeis-Sheet I.

TM: wams PETERS co, Puofauwo wAsmnmpu, a. c.

Patented Dec. 3, l90l.

0. SANDERS. CLOTHES LINE REEL.

{Application filed Dec. 20, 1900.\

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTO-LITHEL, msumarou. n. c.

PATENT ii if Face."

OLOFF N. SANDERS, OF LAGRANGE, ILLINOIS.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,942, dated December 3, 1901.

Application filed December 20, 1900. Serial No. 40,555. (No model.)

, provements in Clothes-Line Reels, of which the, following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes-line reels; and its primary object is to provide a device of simple construction which is light and durable and which is provided with means whereby the line may be unwound at a desired speed.

A further object is to provide means of peculiar construction whereby the reel may be turned for the purpose of untwisting the rope without necessitating the release of the andle.

, With these and other objects in view the invention consists in providing a yoke, between the ends of which is mounted a reel formed, preferably, of wire wheels arranged at opposite ends of a shaft. A crank is arranged at one end of the shaft and is provided with a suitable handle, whereby the shaft may be revolved. Spring-yokes extend from the yoke of the shaft and are provided with inwardly extending loops which are adapted to interlock and which can be so arranged as to clamp the rope passing therebetween, if desired, thereby retarding its motion.

The invention also consists in providing a handle which is loosely mounted upon a bolt extending from the center of the yoke of the reel, and a thumb-nut is mounted upon the outer end of this bolt and is adapted when turned inward to clamp upon the handle and hold the same fixed upon said bolt. A wire or rod is loosely connected to one of the ears of'the thumb-nut and is adapted to swing into a longitudinally-extending slot formed within the end of the bolt, and this rod serves the purpose of a crank when it is desired to revolve the yoke without releasing the handle.

The invention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the pre ferred form of my invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the'reel, the

'gitudinally-extending slot 12.

position of the clothes -line thereon being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a section on the line no a: of Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the yoke,showing its loops and bolt. Fig. 5 is an end view of the yoke- Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 isa yoke, within the ends of which is journaled a shaft 2, having a crank 3 at one end, said crank being provided with a handle 4, whereby the same may be readily grasped and turned. Wheels 5 are secured to the shaft 2 at points adjacent to the ends thereof, and these wheels are of thesame size and are preferably formed of wire. spring 6 surrounds the shaft 2 and bears at one end against a collar on the yoke-shaft and at the other end against the yoke, and this spring serves to prevent the reel from unwinding too rapidly when the rope is being drawn therefrom. Strips 7 of spring metal, preferably Wire, extend longitudinally from the ends of the yoke, and these strips are bent inward at the center to form loops 8 and 9, respectively. One of these loops 8 overlaps the intermediate portion of the remaining loop 9, and the sides of the loop 8 are bent so as to form recesses adapted to receive said intermediate portion of the loop 9. By this construction the spring-strips 7 maybe moved from or toward each other and may be locked in adjusted position. It is of course understood that these strips are pivoted to the ends of the yoke, so as to permit the same to be swung from or toward each other.

A bolt 10 extends longitudinally from the center of the yoke 1, and the free end thereof is threaded, as at 11, and provided with a lon- A handle 13 is loosely mounted upon the bolt 10, and a thumb-nut 14 engages the threaded end of said bolt and is adapted when turned inward to clamp the handle in position thereon. A rod 15 is pivoted to one of the ends of the thumb-nut and when swung inward will engage the slot 12 of the bolt, and said rod can then be used as a crank for turning the bolt within the handle 13 after the thumb-nut has been removed from contact with said handle.

One end of the clothes-line is adapted to be secured to the reel, after which the line is wound on the reel, and the remaining end is A coilthen inserted between the loops 8 and 9.

It will of course be understood that the clothesline can be readily wound upon the reel by turning the same by means of the crank 3. Should the line become twisted while the same is being wound, it is merely necessary to throw the rod 15 into engagement with the end of the bolt 10, and said rod can then be used as a crank for turning the bolt. As this bolt is secured to the center of the yoke, it is obvious that the yoke will turn therewith, the bolt 10 revolving within the handle 13. After the line has been wound upon the reel the handle 13 is clamped upon its bolt 10 by releasing the rod 15 from engagement with said bolt and then turning the thumb-nut 14 inward until the same clamps upon the handle. If it is desired to unwind the line rapidly, the loops 8 and 9 are pressed toward each other, so as to throw their intermediate portions farther apart. The line may then be drawn from the reel without having its movement retarded by said loops. The spring 6 upon the shaft 2, however, will prevent the reel from revolving too rapidly. When it is desired to retard the movement of the clothes-line, the intermediate portions of the loops should be pressed toward each other until the rope is clamped therebetweeu. It will of course be understood that the recesses formed in the loop 8 will receive the intermediate portion of the remaining loop 9, and thereby lock the loops in either of the positions to which they are moved.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the pivoted rod 15 is provided with a loop or eye 16 at its free end. This is provided so that the device can be readily suspended from a hook or nail when not in use.

In the foregoing description I have embodied the preferred form of my invention; but I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of this invention, and I therefore reserve to myself the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a yoke; of a reel j ournaled therein, spring-metal strips pivoted to the yoke, inwardly-extending loops formed with said strips and adapted to overlap each other, one of said loops being provided with recesses for the reception of the intermediate portion of the remaining loop, and means for revolving the reel.

2. The combination with a yoke; of a reel journaled therebetween, pivoted strips extending from the ends of the yoke, springloops formed with said strips and extending toward each other and normally overlapping, oneof said loops being provided with recesses for the reception of the intermediate portion of the remaining loop, a crank for revolving the reel, and means contacting with the reel for retarding the movement thereof.

3. The combination with a yoke, of a reel journaled therein, a bolt projecting from the yoke and slotted at its outer end, a-handle loosely mounted on saidbolt, a nut upon the bolt, and a rod pivotally secured to said nut, and adapted to be swung into the slot of the bolt.

at. The combination with a yoke; of a shaft j ournaled therein, wheels secured to the shaft, acoil-spring mounted upon the shaft and adapted to retard the movement of the wheels, spring-strips pivoted to the ends of the yoke, and loops extending inward from said strips and adapted to overlap, one of said loops being recessed to receive the intermediate portion of the remaining loop.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLOFF N. SANDERS. Witnesses:

F. T. Du VoN, R. L. FELLoWs. 

